The first meeting of the Iran-Oman joint committee on the Strait of Hormuz convened in Muscat, as Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi publicly stated that the sultanate does not support imposing tolls on vessels transiting the waterway. He stressed that any future arrangements must comply with international law, specifically the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and preserve freedom of navigation. However, al-Busaidi did not rule out discussions on fees for specific maritime services such as navigational safety, pollution response, and emergency preparedness, distinguishing these from transit tolls.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who led the talks, declared that the management of the strait “will not return to the previous situation.” He asserted Iran’s sovereign rights over its territorial waters and confirmed that both sides share the view that services provided should entail costs. Gharibabadi announced that technical committees from both countries would begin expert-level talks within seven to eight days to determine new transit routes—replacing lanes established in 1968—and to finalize future administrative and service arrangements. He also reiterated that responsibility for mine clearance rests solely with Iran, rejecting any foreign involvement.

The discussions are rooted in paragraph five of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which ended the recent Iran-US war. The MoU obliges Iran to ensure safe, cost-free passage for commercial shipping for 60 days, after which Iran and Oman are to negotiate the future administration of the strait in consultation with other Gulf coastal states. With that interim period underway, the talks aim to define the permanent framework. Viewed from Washington, the US opposes any form of levy on transit, regarding the strait as an international waterway. Omani officials, while echoing that principle, have signalled a willingness to explore service-based charges, a nuance that could bridge the gap.

The meeting follows a sharp decline in maritime traffic through Hormuz, which Iranian state media attributed to “aggressive” US actions and recent attacks on two tankers near the strait. Iran has insisted that vessels use only the lane it has designated, rejecting a temporary corridor opened by Oman in coordination with the UN. Meanwhile, Tehran denied reports of an imminent technical meeting with the US in Qatar, stating that no such talks are scheduled this week. The joint committee’s technical working groups are expected to convene shortly, while Oman continues its broader diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and secure freedom of navigation in the strategic chokepoint.